Bb Phrygian Scale

Q: What is the Phrygian scale?

Phrygian is a sequence of notes built on a specific interval formula. Each scale has a characteristic sound: major sounds bright, minor sounds melancholic, exotic scales sound sharp or mysterious.

Q: How do I play the Phrygian scale on guitar?

Choose a root note on the fretboard and follow the position diagram above. Start slowly, practising each position ascending and descending. Use a metronome and gradually increase the BPM.

Q: What music styles use the Phrygian scale?

Each scale has its own character and genre associations. See the theory block on this page: it lists characteristic styles and famous song examples.

Q: How do I transpose the Phrygian scale to another key?

Use the root selector at the top of the page — all positions automatically adjust to the chosen root. The fingering patterns stay the same; only the starting fret changes.

Q: What is the difference between scales and modes?

A scale is a set of notes. A mode is a scale viewed from a specific degree. For example, C major and D Dorian contain the same notes but start from different degrees and sound different.

Minor mode with a flat second. The lowered second defines the tense character. Used in Spanish and Eastern music.

How to play the scale

Notes

Direction

Музыкальный контекст

АккордBb MajorТрезвучие

АрпеджиоBb Major arpeggioТрезвучие

ГаммаBb phrygian7 нот

ТональностьBb MajorМажорная тональность

ПрогрессияPop progressionПоп-прогрессия

Показывает, как текущий элемент связан с ладом, тональностью и используется в музыке.

Theory

General info

Name: Bb Phrygian mode
Type: Minor
Note count: 7
Description: Minor mode with a flat second. The lowered second defines the tense character. Used in Spanish and Eastern music.

Notes & degrees

Degrees, notes & intervals: 1Bbroot
2Bminor 2nd
3Dbminor 3rd
4Ebperfect 4th
5Fperfect 5th
6Gbminor 6th
7Abminor 7th

Interval formula: Bb1 stB2 stDb2 stEb2 stF1 stGb2 stAb
Brief explanation: Bb Phrygian mode follows the pattern H – W – W – W – H – W – W from root Bb. It is a 7-note mode with a minor character.

How it sounds

Character: dark and tense character
pronounced Eastern or Spanish color
feeling of compression and pull due to the lowered 2nd degree
Characteristic interval: Minor 2ndm2 · 1 st
Description: The minor second (1 semitone from root) creates the characteristic Spanish, flamenco sound.
Where recognized: III degree of major
Flamenco, metal, Middle Eastern music
Phrygian cadence

🎹 Bb Phrygian scale on piano →

Chords by degreeBb Phrygian

iBbmminBb Db FTonic IIIDbmajDb F Ab ivEbmminEb Gb BbSubdominant v°FdimdimF Ab Cb VIGbmajGb Bb Db viiAbmminAb Cb Eb

Harmonic context

Most convincing on bII–i cadences (Phrygian cadence). Foundation of flamenco and metal riffs.

Tendencies & resolutions

Pillar degrees: 1Bb(Си-бемоль)root
3Db(Ре-бемоль)minor 3rd
5F(Фа)perfect 5th
Characteristic degrees: 2B(Си)lowered 2nd degree
Tendencies & resolutions: 7AbAb
1BbBb
subtonic tends toward the tonic (whole step down) — soft tendency
4EbEb
3DbDb
4th degree resolves down to the minor 3rd
2BB
1BbBb
lowered 2nd strongly pulls down to tonic (half step)
6GbGb
5FF
6th degree resolves down to the 5th (half step)

Connections & usage

Compatible chords

Chords whose notes all belong to this scale. Suitable for accompaniment and harmonization.

C#C# Major C#7C# Dominant 7 C#sus2C# Sus2 C#sus4C# Sus4 C#7sus4C# 7sus4 C#5C# Power chord C#6C# 6th C#6/9C# 6/9

Show more (8)

C#9C# 9th C#add9C# Add9 C#11C# 11th C#13C# 13th C#9sus4C# 9sus4 C#add11C# Add11 C#6sus4C# 6sus4 C#7sus2C# 7sus2

EbmEb Minor Ebm7Eb Minor 7 Ebsus2Eb Sus2 Ebsus4Eb Sus4 Eb7sus4Eb 7sus4 Eb5Eb Power chord Ebm9Eb Minor 9 Ebmadd9Eb Minor Add9

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Ebm11Eb Minor 11 Eb9sus4Eb 9sus4 Ebm(add11)Eb Minor Add11 Eb7sus2Eb 7sus2

FdimF Diminished Fm7b5F Half-dim 7

F#F# Major F#maj7F# Major 7 F#sus2F# Sus2 F#sus4F# Sus4 F#5F# Power chord F#6F# 6th F#6/9F# 6/9 F#maj9F# Major 9

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F#add9F# Add9 F#maj11F# Major 11 F#maj13F# Major 13 F#add11F# Add11 F#6sus4F# 6sus4

AbmAb Minor Abm7Ab Minor 7 Absus2Ab Sus2 Absus4Ab Sus4 Ab7sus4Ab 7sus4 Ab5Ab Power chord Abm6Ab Minor 6 Abm6/9Ab Minor 6/9

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Abm9Ab Minor 9 Abmadd9Ab Minor Add9 Abm11Ab Minor 11 Ab9sus4Ab 9sus4 Abm13Ab Minor 13 Abm(add11)Ab Minor Add11 Ab6sus4Ab 6sus4 Ab7sus2Ab 7sus2

BbmBb Minor Bbm7Bb Minor 7 Bbsus4Bb Sus4 Bb7sus4Bb 7sus4 Bb5Bb Power chord Bbm(add11)Bb Minor Add11

BB Major Bmaj7B Major 7 Bsus2B Sus2 B5B Power chord B6B 6th B6/9B 6/9 Bmaj9B Major 9 Badd9B Add9

Show more (3)

Bmaj13B Major 13 Bmaj7b5B Major 7b5 Bmaj7#11B Major 7#11

Circle of Fifths

Position of the key on the Circle of Fifths. Click a neighboring key to open the same scale in that key.

Bb major

Relative key: Gm
Dominant: F
Subdominant: Eb
Key signature: 2b

Diatonic chords

IBbmajorBb D FTonic iiCmminorC Eb G iiiDmminorD F A IVEbmajorEb G BbSubdominant VFmajorF A CDominant viGmminorG Bb D vii°AdimdimA C EbLeading tone

Musical application

Genres

Flamenco, metal, Middle Eastern music

In melody

Flamenco melodies, metal riffs. Flat 2nd creates tense phrase openings.

In improvisation

Spanish-style improvisation. Effective with bII–i motion (Phrygian cadence).

In harmonic thinking

Phrygian cadence bII–i. Static pedal tones with descending motion.

Musical context

Flamenco, metal, Middle Eastern music. Paco de Lucía, Megadeth.

Play this scale

Practice positions and patterns on the interactive fretboard.

Open fretboard trainer

What to learn next

ModeLydianNext mode in the church mode system ModeLydianParallel mode — same notes, different character ScaleMinor pentatonicPentatonic — simplified version to start with ProgressionFlamenco Phrygian cadenceProgression that works well with this mode

Compare all

Diatonic chords (C)

C (I)Dm (ii)Em (iii)F (IV)G (V)Am (vi)B° (vii°)

Fitting progressions

Flamenco Phrygian cadence (i-bVII-bVI-V)Metal power minor (i-bVII-bVI-V)

Other modes

Ionian (major)Dorian Lydian Mixolydian

Recommended for you

What is the Phrygian scale?

How do I play the Phrygian scale on guitar?

What music styles use the Phrygian scale?

How do I transpose the Phrygian scale to another key?

What is the difference between scales and modes?